Lawyer of third ex-MS 'Goon Squad' officer pushes for low sentence. Victim exits courtroom

Daniel Opdyke was the third former Rankin County deputy to be sentenced Wednesday in connection to a Jan. 24, 2023, incident resulting in the abuse and torture of two Black men, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker.

Jeffery Reynolds, Opdyke's attorney, requested Wednesday morning for the ex-officer's sentence to be lowered to seven years from the maximum range of 17.5 years for his “minimum” involvement in the crime. This request was not granted.

Opdyke was sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Tom Lee.

"Mr. Opdyke, I don’t doubt that you were subjected to the corrupted influence of your superiors. ... You may not have been fully aware of what the Goon Squad was about when you decided to join, but you knew it involved the use of excessive force and tactics ... prior to the January 24 attack on Mr. Parker and Mr. Jenkins.," Lee said in the courtroom.

"You were not merely a passive observer, ... you actively participated in that brutal attack,” Lee added.

This comes after two other former officers connected to the so-called "Goon Squad" were sentenced by a federal judge to federal prison Tuesday.

Hunter Elward, 31, who shot one of the victims, was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison Tuesday morning. Shortly after, 46-year-old Jeffrey Middleton, described as the group's ringleader, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.

During the Wednesday sentencing, Reynolds said the request for a seven-year sentence stemmed from factors such as Opdyke’s childhood trauma and how Opdyke was the “youngest and least experience that night.”

Middleton's lawyer objects to claim: Second ex-MS 'Goon Squad' officer sentenced for torturing 2 Black men. See for how long

Reynolds said Opdyke was “incorporated into the culture of violence” called the “Middleton Goon Squad shift” back in October of 2022. And “out of fear” that Opdyke would be killed if he told government officials what happened on Jan. 24, Reynolds said Opdyke remained quiet for a while.

Eventually, Opdyke started to provide the government with “WhatsApp text message” that detailed the plan of the incident, Reynolds said.

“It was like being in a cult. Once (Opdyke) got away from the culture leaders, he was able to think straight. He was disgusted with himself,” Reynolds said.

Opdyke then approached the podium to deliver his statement to the court, which drew reactions from the victims and the victims’ family.

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“For the past seven months, I have been jailed and isolated from everyone else and my family. Isolation has given me time to recollect my actions in how I, as a son, brother, father, husband, (turned) into the monster I become that night,” Opdyke stated with a shaky tone.

Opdyke continued speaking, turning to face the victims and the victims’ family, "… I cannot fathom how I failed so easily. (At times), going along with and actively participating in excessive force against Mr. Parker and Mr. Jenkins. I still have nightmares about that night. Unfortunately, I can’t undo the harm that I caused. I take responsibility for my actions, and it starts with apologizing to Mr. Parker and Mr. Jenkins. … I failed you. I swore to protect you.”

Just then, Parker and Mary Jenkins, the mother of victim Michael Corey Jenkins, stormed out of the courtroom, shaking their heads from left to right.

After Parker and Mary Jenkins exited the courtroom, Opdyke then began addressing Michael Jenkins directly, saying, “I could have tried to stop it, but I didn’t. I wish I could take away your suffering. From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry. I am. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. “

No oral response was given by Michael Jenkins. He stared at Opdyke.

Once Opdyke turned back around to the podium, he addressed Judge Lee.

“The bottom line your Honor (is) I have no justifiable excuse for my actions. I was a coward. I didn’t have the courage to stand up for what was right. I hope my sentence brings Mr. Parker and Mr. Jenkins closure,” Opdyke said.

Christian Dedmon, another ex-officers who pleaded guilty in the abuse of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker will be sentenced Wednesday afternoon. Two additional former officers connected to this case will be sentenced Thursday, March 21.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Third ex-Rankin Co. deputy, Daniel Opdyke, sentenced to 17.5 years